biggs



'6. F. BIGGS.

SAMPLE SHOE CASE.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1896.) (No Model.)

NITED STATES ATENT Fries.

GEORGE F. BIGGS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ADLIA O. STANLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

SAM PLE-SHOE- CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,789, dated December 13, 1898- Application filed September 23, 1896. Serial No- 606i739. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BIGGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sample-Shoe Cases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadzto the accompanying drawings,- forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in sample-shoe cases; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out-in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case open, with the flap of one ofthe trays thereof thrown open. Fig. 2 is an end view of the case folded. Fig. 3 is a section on so 00 of Fig. 4, showing the nesting or intermeshing of the compartments of the two trays when the device is folded. Fig. 4 is a section on 1 y of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an end View of the device open, but with the flaps of the trays closed.

The object of my invention is to construct a sample-shoe case which will be compact, light, and cheap; one which will accommodate a maximum number of samples in a minimum amount of space, and one which is easily manipulated, thereby enabling the salesman to display his goods at a moments notice.

In detail the invention may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 represent two trays hinged along their adjacent longitudinal basal edges and adapted to fold in the direction shown by the downwardly-directed arrows in Fig. 5. Formed in each tray by a series of inclined plates or by a single corrugated plate are a series of triangular compartments 2,'the upper edges 3 of the side walls of each compartment being disposed approximately on a level with or preferably slightly below the upper edge of the tray, and the bot-toms or basal edges -l-of each compartment projecting asuitable distance below the lower edge of the tray, it being understood that the lower edges (and of course the upper as well) of the two series of compartments break joint or alternate with one another, so that when the device is folded the several compartments will properly nest with one another, as seen in section in Figs. 3and 4. Disposed along the upper outer edge of each tray and opening outwardly or in the direction indicated by the upwardly-directed arrows in Fig. 5 is a flap composed of a flexible strip or section 5 and a comparatively stiff strip or section 6, the strip 5 constituting a hinge for the section 6 and for the flap as a whole, the section 5 being of sufficient width to prevent splitting or wearing of the hinge thus formed by reason of the rough usage to which this class of devices is subjected from constant handling. Secured along the outer surface of the stiff section of one of the flaps and arranged in line with one another is one end of aseries of elastic bands 7, each band being provided with an eye 8, carried at its free end, which is adapted to snap over abutton 9, disposed opposite thereto along the outer surface of the stiff section of the opposite flap. When the trays are closed by the swinging thereof about their hinge line in the direction of the downwardly-directed arrows in Fig. 5, the appearance of the folded case will be as seen in Fig. 2, the elastic bands 7 yielding to the tension to which they are subjected in the folding of the case, the said bands stretching, of course, a distance equal to the distance to which the adjacent edges of the open trays become separated when they have assumed the position shown in Fig. 2. The bands 7 when thus stretched assist materially in keeping the respective trays of the case closed. The tray to whose flap the bands are permanently secured is also provided along the outer surface of the terminal walls thereof with loops 10, by which the case can be seized. The compartments 2 when filled with shoes or samples of any other class of goods will face outwardly when the case is folded, the several compartments of the two trays being covered by the flaps 5 6, which are held firmly closed against the upper edges of the trays by the elastic bands '7 now under tension. The eye 8 of each band is provided with a strip 11, by which it can be better seized.

It is of course obvious that the construction may be varied and changed as to details without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a sample-case, suitable folding trays, a series of compartments carried by each tray, the said compartments being adapted to nest upon the folding of the trays, substantially as set forth.

2. In a sample-case, suitable folding trays, a series of triangular compartments disposed in each tray, the upper edges of the compartments being substantially on a line with the upper edge of each tray, and the bases of the compartments extending a suitable distance beyond the lower edge of each tray, the several compartments alternating with one another whereby upon the folding of the trays the said compartments will nest with one another, substantially as set forth.

In a sample-case, suitable hinged or folding trays, a series of compartments carried by each tray and adapted to nest with one another upon the folding of the trays, a flap carried along the outer upper edge of each tray said flap opening outwardly and adapted to normally cover the series of compartments of the tray, and suitable elastic bands adapt- .ed to secure or connect the flaps upon the closing or folding of the ease, substantially as set forth.

4. A sample case comprising two trays hinged to one another, each tray having a series of triangular compartments projecting a suitable distance beyond the edges of the trays along which the same are hinged, the compartments being so arranged as to nest with one another upon the folding of the trays, a flap composed of a comparatively stiff strip or section and a yielding strip or section secured along the outer edge of each tray and adapted to swing outwardly, a series of elastie bands secured along the outer surface of the stiff section of one flap, eyes carried by the free ends of the bands, suitable buttons disposed along the stiff section of the opposite flap, for securing the eyes of the bands, the said bands stretching upon the folding of the trays and adapted when thus stretched to hold the flaps firmly over the series of compartments, the said compartments facing outwardly when the case is folded, substantially as set forth.

5. In a sample-case, suitable folding trays, a series of compartments carried by each tray the bottoms of said compartments being adapted to nest when the case is folded, and suitable flaps adapted to cover the compartments when the case is folded, substantially as set forth.

6. In a sample-case, suitable folding trays, a series of compartments carried by each tray and adapted to face outwardly when the case is folded, suitable flaps adapted to cover the compartments when the case is thus folded, and elastic bands adapted to connect the flaps, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE I BIGGS.

Witnesses ALFRED A. llilA'lHEY, EMIL STAREK. 

